[01: audio] white knuckles

[manhunthotline]

[With oddly apropos timing, given the recent appearance of the traveler, detective Benny Stango has arrived in the middle of a conversation with Mark Meltzer's answering machine--his last conversation with either it or the man himself, in fact. Without his noticing, the ground has changed under his feet from damp concrete to carpet, and the pay phone he's been clutching has been replaced by the Wonderland standard-issue communicator unit.

So the network gets treated to a low voice, sharp with panic and thickly-accented (the Bronx, if anyone was wondering). And he's shouting. Despite years of smoking, the man has a set of lungs on him.]

--Jesus, Meltzer, what is that thing?! I took a shot at it, it didn't even flinch! I ran the whole way back to the squad car--yeah, I gotta remember to clean the seat--jesus, Meltzer, I never believed you were right, I'm sorry! Just gimme a c--

[The voice stops, almost cut off. Stango's looked up, finally noticed the change.]

What the hell...?

[At least he's still blissfully ignorant of the whole hellhound issue.]

Comments

[manhunthotline]

No, just--just shook up, I guess.

[carbon_knight]

Ah.

[So, nothing, then? Right.]

I kept a few of your things. Not much, but if you'd like to have them back...

[manhunthotline]

I don't guess it matters much. What things?

[carbon_knight]

Little things--what was left in my room, mostly.

And your snake.

[Just incidentally. You know.]

[manhunthotline]

[Finally a spark of life; Ben half-stands, reaching toward Mark.]

She's alive? You kept her? For two years?

[carbon_knight]

[Nod.]

She was waiting in your room. Live things must last a little longer.

[manhunthotline]

[He swallows hard.]

Thank you.

[carbon_knight]

[He nods acknowledgement, pleased but unwilling to fuss about something that was never in question.]

Come see her.

[manhunthotline]

Okay. [A soft, self-deprecating laugh.] I doubt she'll remember me.

[carbon_knight]

Why wouldn't she? Come.

[manhunthotline]

She's only a snake. They don't think about people much.

[carbon_knight]

Only a snake, only a mirror.

[He says it as he's crossing to the door, addressing no one in particular.]

Do you want to see her or not?

[manhunthotline]

I'm coming. [Moving slowly, as if he's not sure where he is, but coming all the same.]

[carbon_knight]

Just across the hall. Like always.

[manhunthotline]

Nothing's changed, huh?

[carbon_knight]

That hasn't, at least.

[He stops just short of his own door, turns to face Ben.]

Sofia's gone. I'm not sure exactly when it happened--she was always hard to keep track of--but it wasn't long after you.

[manhunthotline]

Oh…Sof'.

[He stops in his tracks--not startled, but as if he simply forgot to take another step.]

[carbon_knight]

I should have told you that first. Perhaps.

[manhunthotline]

Barely a year alive. Poor Sof'.

[carbon_knight]

Longer than some others.

[manhunthotline]

I don't know--what to do.

[carbon_knight]

[He steps forward and actually takes Ben's arm, ushering him across the hall.]

Come see your pet. I'll help you move her, when you're ready.

[manhunthotline]

Okay. [He follows, even more pliant than usual.]

[carbon_knight]

[Mark has cleaned the drying laundry up, but the room still might be messier than Ben remembers it. The snake's vivarium covers most of the desk, and her supplies fill the footwell behind it. The little homemade puzzle Mark had been building is spread across an endtable, with his desk chair drawn up close. The radio console might have even collected some dust.]

Here she is.

[manhunthotline]

She--she's grown. [He bends at the waist so he can examine her.] She's beautiful, Mark.